Once upon a time...

...several years ago, before I really started card-making I dabbled a bit with altered art, my particular interest was altered books. I acquired an old board book that had recessed pages and started to create a book of fairy tale pages. I painted the outside with several coats of gold acrylic and used a stamp to emboss swirls into the paint and  hand lettered the title...

...then life...work, grandchildren, family commitments etc got in the way and I forgot about it. When I saw the theme for this month's challenge at Aurora Wings it immediately sprang to mind and I dug it out again. I used some stamps and embossing powder to further decorate the outside.
After sanding and coating with gesso the inside looked like this....

I used distress inks and stencils to colour the background, stamping and heat embossing the roses around the frame .

I chose a beautiful AW image, Peace Rose, which I printed twice, flipping the image for the second copy. Colouring medium for this is copics. These were fussy cut and added to the page .

To create the title page I distressed a piece of white cardstock,  hand lettered the words and used the stamp and embossing powders again. 

So here it is, the first page in my 'new' book, illustrating the lovely fairy story about the two sisters, Snow White and Rose Red.

Thanks for visiting, hope you are enjoying what remains of the weekend

Chris

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Challenges entered:

Aurora Wings #68

alteredeclectics July

mixitupchallenge  #15

creativecrafters #5

Anything goes at Catch the Bug

First Saturday of the month, so it's time for our Anything Goes Challenge at Catch the Bug. Here's my card featuring the gorgeous Clyde Birthday, please click here to visit the blog and check out the inspiration! Hope you choose to play along!

Thanks for stopping by today, enjoy the weekend.

Chris

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Challenges entered:
alwayshappybirthday  July atg
cutitupchallenges #151
qkrstampede #303
craftysentiments bright colours

Totally girly at Crafty Calendar

Hi, back again with another DT make! This time it's for our new challenge at Crafty Calendar...we want to see your girly makes this month! We're lucky to be sponsored by the fabulous Pink Gem Designs, who generously allowed the DT to choose one of their sweet images each, so many lovely digis to choose from! I chose to use this sweet little poppet, Angelica, available here. Once again I coloured with copics! The DP is from a 6 inch pad called Secret Garden, not sure of the brand as the pad has fallen apart, the die cut flowers are MB, stamped tags LOTV. The pink daisy brad is v old...I bought a load of them back when Lakeland sold craft stuff. 

My teamies have created some fabulous cards for you to enjoy this month...and of course we'd love to see what you can come up with for this lovely challenge...so click here to join us!

Chris

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Challenges entered:
cardz4galz #75
pearlysparkles #30
fussyandfancy #215
4craftychicks  #410
cutecardthursday #537

It's Christmas in July...

...at Sweet Stampin' this week. Ok, I know we're having a heatwave here right now, but maybe making Christmas cards will make you feel a little cooler! 

I used a sweet  Wild Rose Studio  stamp, which I've coloured with copics random DP from stash and a few die cuts, My Christmas card stash is slowly growing!

There's lots of fabulous creations to admire over on the Challenge blog, and of course we'd love to be inspired by your beautiful cards too!

Thanks for visiting.

Chris

x

I'll be back later...3 DT cards today!!!!

Challenges entered:
creativecraftcottage  #109
12monthsofchristmas #43
alohafriday #122
craftaholicsrus #27
lilredwagon #453

Freebie Friday at Catch the Bug

Good morning, time for a freebie over at Catch the Bug, here's my card featuring this weeks lovely free digi, Dottie Beach...such a fabulous image this time! Just hop over to the Challenge Blog for details of how to grab yours!

To make my card, I coloured Dottie with copics...love that polka dot bikini...and fussy cut. Placed her on the embossed panel (free EF with a magazine) added my beach huts (free stamp from magazine), stamped sentiment and die cut whale tail (free...yet another magazine!). Thanks for visiting...nearly the weekend :))

Chris

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Challenges entered:
craftycatz #424
papercraftcrew #297

Buttons and Bows at Fab'n'Funky

Good morning, there's a brand new challenge starting today over at Fab'n ' Funky,We have a lovely  theme for you this week chosen by our very talented Judith, it's 'buttons and bows' and she wants to see both on your entries. It's a 'just for fun' week but the top 3 will get a beautiful badge for their blogs.

My card had to be a quick one this time...I'm glued to the TV over Wimbledon fortnight! 

I used a sweet image I coloured a while ago, the stamp is a very old clear stamp I unearthed whilst looking for something else, there's a whole set of these pretty girls but I found it difficult to get a good impression in the days before my trusty stamping platform...now it's easy peasy! 

I die cut a few circles and made a simple easel card...not forgetting the buttons and bows of course!

Hope you can tear yourself away from the tennis/football long enough to join in! There's loads of beautiful creations from my teamies to inspire you this week, just hop over here to feast your eyes.

Thanks for visiting, have a lovely day...whatever you're doing!

Chris

x
Challenges entered:
craftycardmakers #215
thepapergirls #155
challengeupyourlife #94
inspirecreatechallenges  #21
watercoolerchallenges 177

Stella Says Sketch #612

Hi, it's time for a new Stella Says Sketch challenge over at Catch the Bug, this time you have 4 weeks to join in...here's my card featuring Puppy Girl

Look at her lovely slim figure and those endless long legs...looks a bit like me...well, I DO have legs and hair...just not quite the same as hers!!! :)

Thanks for calling by, have a great week.

Chris

x

Challenges entered:
sendasmile4kids card for teens
craftycatz #423
lilpatchofcraftyfriends #85